Reinforced blocks and interlocking means therefor



C. G. HASTINGS. 1251115011050 BLOCKS AN-D'INTERLOCKl-NG MEANS THEREFOR.

4 ,6, o o d APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24-; I918 Patented June 14, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

o o d a o C. G. HASTINGS. REINFORCED BLOCKS AND IN'TERLOCKING MEANS'TIHEREFOR.

APPL ICATIOH FILED JUNE 24,1918

Patented June M, 1921.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 6 V( iN all W. 111.. I. ll WWVIN"' I a c. e. HASTINGS. REINFORCEDBLOCKS AND INTERLOCKING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1918 1921; 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented June 14,

, M7, 7. 0 m J f WMWW m 7.... .v 9 m z f 6 8. m

UNITED STATES ra t rrieef CORNELIUS G. HASTINGS, OF GLENDALE,CALIFORNIA.

Application filed June 24,

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ConNnLIUs G. HAS- TINGS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Glendale, in the county of LosAngeles and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Reinforced Blocks and Interlocking Means Therefor; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention has reference more particularly to a block for buildingtunnels or similar structures and which is adapted to interlock withsimilar blocks when assembled to provide a solid substantialconstruction.

In the construction of tunnels or similar structures, such as silos,tanks, etc., it is de-. sirable to build same of blocks which have beenpreviously prepared and are capable of being assembled so as to be.securely and readily combined or interlocked in such a manner that thewall is in effect a unitary structure having the separate blocksintercugaged in such a manner as to be locked against displacement andefi'ectively resist the strain to which the wall is subjected.

It is an object, therefore, of my invention to provide blocks which areadapted to be built up in a structure and having portions overlappingand seated in the adjoining block so as to facilitate assembling and sothat when assembled the blocks are thereby held against displacement.

Another object of my invention is to provide blocks adapted to beassembled in a structure and having overlapping tongues at the ends andalso overlapping ribs at the sides whereby the blocks are held inposition against displacement.

Another object of my invention is to provide blocks adapted to beassembled in a structure and having portions of the adj oining blocksoverlapped at theends and sides thereof, and having locking meansconnect ing the overlapped portions of the blocks.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure comprisingsimilar blocks wherein portions of three adjoining blocks are overlappedand connected by means of a locking member.

- Another object of my invention is to pro.

Specification of Letters Patent. ?atented J 11110 14:, 1921.

1918. Serial No. 241,515.

vide a block adapted to be assembled in a structure with portionsoverlapping and locked to portions of the adjoining block, and havingreinforcing means embedded in the block adapted to strengthen theinterlocked portions of the block.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connecting means foroverlapped portions of adjoining blocks which is adapted to be expandedand thereby locked in position to hold the adjoining blocks together;

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure comprisingblocks having flanges engaged in recesses provided thereforin theadjoining blocks, and a reinforcing band in the recesses for holding theblocks in assembled relation.

My invention also has other objects which will be apparent from thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings, in which I haveshown-and described my invention in a preferred form. 7

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view-of the outer side of a wall constructed inaccordance with my invention. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a block embodying my invention. 7

Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite side of the block shown in Fig.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6is an end view of the block looking at the right hand end of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the, line 7-7 of Fig. 3. j

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 3. I j

Fig. 9 is a view of the inner face of the block.

Fig. 10 is a detail view partly in section showing the means forsecuring the locking members v in the blocks.

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation showing a tank or silo embodying myinvention. Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 12-12of-Fig. 11.

Fig. 13'is a top view of one of the blocks used in the construction ofthe tank or silo, and shows the reinforcing band applied thereto.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1414 of Fig. 12showing the vertical connectors for the blocks. r

Fig. 15 is view of the spreader for securing the vertical connectors inthe blocks.

As shown on the drawings:

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive, the reference numeral 1indicates the blocks, each of which is similarly formed and constructed,and which are combined to form the wall. These blocks are particularlyadapted for the construction of tunnel walls and similar structureshaving a curved or' the block'is recessed as at 5, so as to aiford asocket to match and receive the flange 4 of the adjoining block. Theblocks are all of like construction so that they are interchangeable andwhen assembled each block has an end portion 3 overlapping an endportion 2 of the adjoining block, and each row of blocks has acontinuous flange or offset portion 4, which overlaps and engages in therecess 5, in the adjoining row of blocks. The blocks of the adjoiningrows are arranged in staggered relation so that the end joints of theblocks of one row are located intermediate of the end joints of theblocks in the adjoining rows, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, andtheflange or rib 4, is made of a lesser thickness than the projectingportions 2 and 3-, so that when assembled in successive rows and instaggered relation the overlapping end portions of the blocks will beoverlapped or have the flange or rib 4 of the adjoining row of blocksprojecting thereover so that a pinor locking member may be inserted inthe overlapping end portions of'two ad oining blocks and also in anovera lapping portion of a block of the adjoining row, so as to afford asubstantial joint to securely hold theblocks together.

For looking the blocks together in the as sembled position-,each blockis provided with a plurality of tubular openings 6, equally spaced apartand along the" side ofthe block which is recessed asat 5', and extendingfrom the recess 5 to the inner faceof the block,"

as shown in Fig. 5, and there are also similar tubular openings 7 and 8,in the projecting end portions 2 and 8 respectively,

which, however, are of shorter length than the openings 6, thesesaidopenings 7 and 8 being equallyspaced from the openings 6 and suitablyspaced from the ends of the block so that when the blocks are arrangedwith the ends overlapping the openings 7 and 8 register and provide acontinuous opening of the same length as the openings 6 and spaced fromthe adjoining openings 6 a distance similar 1 to the spacing of theopenings 6 from each other. Thus it will be observed that when the rowof blocks are arranged end to end in overlapping relation there areaplurality of equally spaced perforations extending from the inner faceof the block to the base of the recess 5, the outer ends of which areadapted to be covered by the overlapping flange or rib 4, of anadjoining row of blocks.

Each block is reinforced by means ofthe bars or strips 9, 10, 11, 12, 13and 14, which extend lengthwise of. the block and are embedded thereinas shown. The strip 10, as shown in Fig-. 8, extends between and islooped around the openings 6 and 7 as shown at 15, to reinforce theouter wall of each opening, and the strip 11, which is located adjacentthe inner face of the block and parallel therewith is placed in linewith the openings'6 and 7. and perforated at each opening to effect asecure engagement of the locking member in the opening as herein afterdescribed. 7 i

The strip 14 is arrangedin the flange or rib 4 adjacent the outer faceof the block and parallel-therewith so asto be located directly over theopenings 6. and 7, of the adjoining row of blocks in the assembledrelation, and there are a plurality of open.- ings 16, which areequallyspaced apart and extend outwardly in the rib 4, fromthe innerface thereof to the strip 14, which openings, when the blocksareassembled asshown in Fig. 1, are adapted to register with the openings.6, and the alined openings 7. and 8 of theadjoining row of blocks sothat looking members which are inserted through the openings 6 andthrough the alined openings 7 and 8 extend into the openings 16, for

holding the adjoining row of blocks in the proper position. The flangeor rib 4, isalso provided witha band 13, which is arranged similarly tothe band ,10, andspaced from the outer edge of the rib and looped aroundthe-- perforations 16 as at. 17, so as to reinforce the walls of theopenings 16..

For locking the blocks together in assembled relation, I use the tubes18-, which are inserted through the openings 6 and'into the openings 16of the overlapping flange or rib' and butt against the inner face. ofthe plate 14. On the inner face' of thelplate 14, in each opening 16, isa tapered spreader plug 19, which may be polygonal incross section andis riveted as shown at 20 in Fig. 10, or otherwise secured to the band14.

The tube 18 is inserted from the inside of V are, caused to expand as at21, and the end of the tube is thereby locked securely. in the 'fiange4. After the tube 18 has been driven into position, a plug 22, similarto the plug 19, is inserted in the open end of the tube 18 and forcedtherein as shown in Fig. 2 so as toexpand the. end of the tube as at 23,and provide a secure connection of the blocks with the tube. The strapor bar 11 embraces the tube 18, at the point of expansion and is engagedby the tube when expanded and thereby assures a rigid connection.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have not only provided ablock construction in which portions of the block overlap and tend tohold or look the block in assembled relation, but I have also providedlocking means which positively connect the overlapped portions of theblocks so as to securely combine same and prevent displacement orseparation of the blocks.

The blocks illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 are shown as formed for making atunnel wall, and the numeral 24 indicates a groove with which the innerwall of the blocks may be constructed so as to engage a tunnel frame,and the reference numeral 25 indicates a pocket whereby the blocks maybe engaged and supported in the operation of placlng the blocks inposition.

Referring to Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive, I have shown a modification of myblock wherebv same is adapted for silo or tank construction. The blocksare formed and provided with the locking openings and connected withtubes 18 in the same manner as the blocks previously described, and inaddition are provided with an inner and an outer row of openings 27 and26 respectively, which extend from side to side of the blocks and aresuitably spaced so that when the blocks of the adjoining rows arearranged in staggered relation as shown in Fig. 11, the openings of eachrow of blocks will register with openings of the adjoining row of blocksso as to admit a locking member for vertically connecting the adjoiningrows of blocks.

This locking member comprises the tube 28, which is of approximately thesame length as the thickness of the block and is adapted to be placed asshown in Fig. 14, so that the ends of the locking member 28 areintermediate of the side walls of the block, the said locking membersbeing driven into position and engaged by an expansion member 29, whichis flanged intermediate of the ends as at 30 and tapered at each end soas to expand the ends of the tube and cause same to securely bindagainst the opening of the block and lock the successive rows of blockstogether.

As a further means of reinforcing the assembled-structure by the flangeor rib 4 a of the adjoining row of blocks. -.While I .have shownanddescribed 'my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theprinciples of my invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sectional structure the combination of a pair of adjoiningblocks having overlapped end portions, another block arranged instaggered relation at the side of said pair of blocks and having aportion thereof overlapping the overlapped portions of the pair ofblocks, and a locking member connecting the overlapped portions of thepair of blocks and said other block.

2. In a sectional structure the combination of a pair of elongatedblocks having overlapped end portions, a similar block arranged instaggered relation at the side of the pair of blocks and having alaterally extending flange seated in a recess in the pair of blocks andoverlapping the overlapped portions of the said pair of blocks, and alocking member extending through registering perforations in the:overlapped portions of the pair of blocks and the flange of the otherblock, and means for fastening the locking member in the overlappedportions of the block 3. In a sectional structure, the combination ofadjoining blocks having overlapping portions, an apertured reinforcingstrip in one of said overlapping portions, a locking member passingthrough said aperture and connecting the said overlapping portions andmeans for producing frictional engagement between the walls of saidaperture and said member.

4.. The combination with a pair of adjoining blocks having overlappingportions, reinforcing strips therein, matching perforations in saidoverlapping portions and extending through the reinforcing strips, and alocking member in the perforations having the ends thereof expanded toengage the walls of the perforations and the holes in the strips in saidoverlapping portions.

5. The combination of a circular series of blocks arranged end to endand having offset overlapping ends which interfit, to gether with olfsetoverlapping ribs along their sides, a groove in the periphery of saidcircular series of blocks, embedded in each block and another band areinforcing band in said groove, an adjoining series of blocks scribedby name in the presence of two having an annllfiar flange sefcelcl i311the subscribing Witnesses.

groove of the 0 er series, an a ine ver- I r tieal holes extendingthrough all of said CORNELIUS 5 blocks adapted forrthe insertion ofreinforc- Witnesses:

ing members. CHARLES H1LLS,J1.,

' Intestimony whereof I-have hereunto sub FRANK A. BREMEIQ Jr.

